issues on dying

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Dec 6, 2023

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Brianna Smith Grand Canyon University PSY-357 Kimberly Smarr August 20, 2023 Issues on Dying The topic of volunteer suicide is a topic that is sensitive and controversial. The right to die typically refers to physician-assisted suicide due to terminal illness, pain, and suffering without end. Allowing someone to choose to end their life through a medical procedure is a topic that I do not have a one-sided opinion on. Being a Christian, suicide is against my beliefs because God gave us life and he chose a path for us. He has the right to end it. Also, depression is a very apparent thing in the lives of many. Depression and anxiety can lead to suicidal thoughts. These thoughts can be cured through many ways such as therapy, medications, religion, or lifestyle changes. Suicide can be a temporary thought that has a way out. When someone has depression, the ability to think clearly is limited and the person is not very optimistic. Suicide is their last resort since they feel there is no way out. Lastly, the right to die can be seen as an irrational decision. If the right to die were to be a thing, there need to be stringent criteria put in place to make sure that the decision is justified. Someone having depression and going through a rough spot in life should not be qualified for assisted suicide. Those qualified for physician- assisted suicide should be in unbearable pain, have a terminal illness that has no cure, and should have exhausted all possible treatments. They should also be required to go through extensive interviews, psych exams, and other medical exams to determine that their options are exhausted and that dying is truly desired. If the process to determine qualification is lengthy, it ensures that

all treatments are exhausted, that it is not a spur-of-the-moment decision, and that the person has their affairs in order. All medical records should be looked over, any medical professionals involved in treatment should be consulted, and family members should also be interviewed. In Canada, 200 patients who were diagnosed with a terminal illness were interviewed. Two weeks later, they were interviewed again to see if they still wished for a hastened death and 45% of patients expressed that they still wished for a hastened death ( Guy & Stern, 2006). Some people are dying anyways and their end is near. I believe it is not unrealistic for them to not want to delay the inevitable and end their pain. The cost of a terminal illness or disease is not only physical but emotional and financial too. The emotional costs of terminal illness are depression, anxiety, and stress. Emotional costs also impact loved ones. Physician-assisted suicide can be viewed as a way to limit the financial and emotional costs of a terminal illness. Medical professionals are faced with ethical dilemmas when treating patients with chronic illnesses because they face the difficult decision of treating the patient to prolong their time left or to offer the option of assisted suicide to prevent delaying the inevitable. Loved ones who are caretakers of those with terminal illnesses also have high emotional costs. They often dedicate a lot of their time to caring for their loved ones. It can be stressful, exhausting, and even a financial burden if they are not able to work. Also, when the person passes away, it can cause a lot of guilt and feeling like they did not do enough. They often blame their loved one’s healthy decline on their efforts as a caretaker. Caregivers experience burnout and do not focus on taking care of themselves. This can lead to high-stress levels, trauma, and compassion fatigue (Figley, 2002). Assisted suicide should be considered in extreme circumstances for patients with chronic pain and suffering that takes a majority of joy out of living. Chronic diseases and illnesses can be expensive and have an emotional toll on patients

and their loved ones. However, it does not mean the patient is suffering just because treatments have a hefty bill. Currently, only 5 states have legalized euthanasia. In those states, less than 1% of physicians have written prescriptions for assisted suicide. Those who have requested assisted suicide reported that pain was not their primary motivation. Their primary motivation was being placed in hospice and that dying is inevitable (Emanuel, et al, 2016). I understand people not wanting to delay the inevitable. However, if pain and suffering are not their primary motivation, I do not believe assisted suicide should be an option.

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References Guy, M., & Stern, T. A. (2006). The desire for death in the setting of terminal illness: a case discussion. Primary care companion to the Journal of clinical psychiatry , 8 (5), 299. Figley, C. R. (2002). Compassion fatigue: Psychotherapists' chronic lack of self care. Journal of clinical psychology , 58 (11), 1433-1441. Emanuel, E. J., Onwuteaka-Philipsen, B. D., Urwin, J. W., & Cohen, J. (2016). Attitudes and practices of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Jama , 316 (1), 79-90.

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